We are all just another human being. We are all pursuing joy and avoiding suffering. These are my observations as I reflect over my time in the present moment.

Ron Russell - My Burning Man Story

I went to the burn in 2003 for the first time as a part of Pyramid Scheme after only learning of it 3 months earlier. Since then I've been "hooked" on the community. I've only been to the burn 5 times since then, my latest was 2013 when I camped with Polly Paradise. I've always been a part of the AZ Burner community since 2003, and it’s my main social circle that I choose to associate with.

Here’s what I've learned from Burning Man.

Most people are remarkable. Sit and talk to someone, and most often you will be surprised by SOMETHING about them. You see this easily in your theme camp, in center camp, it the strange art install on the playa. Human beings are incredible creatures.

A persons physical appearance has nothing to do with who they are as a human being. We are all ugly and beautiful, hateful and compassionate, noble and base. A persons outward appearance has no bearing on the nobility of their inherent human compassion.

As vastly different as the community members of Burning Man are, if we can build a community based on the 10 principles, there is no reason why positive communities like Burning Man can’t exist outside of Burning Man.

While I've had some of the most fun of my life at Burning Man events (official and non) it’s really the friendships and personal connections that continue to impact my life on a daily basis that I really cherish.

Why do I want to be an RC and what I will bring -

Very simply I want to help the AZ community to continue to thrive.

I want to bring additional attention to the "nonparty" aspects of Burning Man, and how it can enrich a person's life.

The time traveled through my life has bled into my burning man behavior, but more uncommonly the burning man life has changed me in a positive way on such a fundamental level… Talk to me in person for more, but as I sit and view my life that I've led and loved, it's permeated with the Burning Man culture and history. I met my 2nd wife, had a 3rd child, had my mid-life crisis and over the past 13 years throughout it all has been "burners".

Not in particular the parties, but the sense of community and the people within it. The people I spend Thanksgiving with, and even sometime Christmas's. This is my found family of Burning Man Participants. If I'm anywhere outside Burning Man culture and I find a fellow burner, I get a hug. Every time. And a real loving and caring hug. This is my family.